The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-09

der any cHeumBtanees 10 ile uehtfuc-
ton. For what IL lifef 1t is the gift
OF God-it is the bes.o wment OF Deity,
and shall mortal man venture to exer-
else the function and high prerogative
Of Deity By destroying what he cannot
ever retsref Heaven forbid! Let us
ponder we'll before We assume the tre-
mendous responsibility. Cluverius has
been convicted on purely circumstsn-
tial evidences. 1t is true, his guilt
seems conclusive; and yet there have
been cases, many and many
an one. In the snnals Of jur spru-
dence where men have died protest.
ing their innocence in the supremest
MON emit OF their existencs and with
their last breath. The 'circum-
st,nces" showing their guilt feemed
irresistible, and yet the horrid fact has
been aflerward brought to light show
ing their innocence. What frightful
thought And what frightful COM
nentary ON capital punishment /! For
how 10 society ever to make amends
for the uAholy dsedr Let me beg
you, my dear sir, TO pause and consid-
er well all that Is involved in your ex-
ecutiye act, should you still choose to
reiegate to the tormants OF the
damned fellow mortal, II these tor
ments in their frightful ferocitv are
what the religious world says they
are. Rather leave to Almighty God
the part OF executioner in his own
gsod time and way, while you confine
| this man and leave him 10 theremorse
Of his own reflections 70 do its work.
But, supposing that this BAD p 'c.ure of
tbs future Life Ia not true, and that
God is better than no Is sometimes
painted; aud suppose that, judging By
all the analogies OF nature, We
conclude that the future life is
one OF advancement and growth,
aud that 1t has its educstlonary pro-
oeeses for the reclamation and eleva-
ton OF the erring and the criminal,
let me ask II We have any right to REL
egats TO the kindly disposed In that
life, or to God himself the rsforma-
ton OF those whom we cal criminals,
and Whose reclamation is our own
plain dutyf IL there not enough OF
crude and debssed and depraved ma
serial going iato that life alre ady daily,
without our adding to the burden2 Is
Il net q plain Sinking OF our duty in
the case, and confession Of coward
ide or moral inability to cops with
crime that we cut short the argument
end kill the oriminaif But do we kill
hint Are we right sure OF that? Do
we know enough Of the facts and con-
ditions OF that lifeto justify us in send
ing into 1t those whom we ourselves
mako no effort to retrieve and to
whom we give no time to reform as
the result Of their own reflections : Can
we satisfy ourselves that all this
is right by our effort to sane
tify the tragedy by the pres
ence and the prayers Of Christian
cleraymenf Surely as witnesses Of
such a ecsne angels may we'll meet.
The laws OF the State should always
find their sanction and support in the
calm good sense and sound judgment
Of It's best citizens; but 1t Is we'll
known that in the matter Of capital
punishment there Is q Widespread and
rapidly growing sentiment in the
minds Of thoughtful people Of it's ina
billy to accomplish any good pur-
poee. The prevalence oil this senti.
ment IL shown In the fact that In
many OF the States 1t has been abol-
ishsd entirely, and statistics In such
States show highly encouraging re-
Bults. The bru alEing, demoralizing
and demonixing tendency OF the gal
lows has been 20 marked and is 80
weil understood that by common con
sent public executions have been
abandoned and the tragic act is now
performed in the privacy OF the Jail
yard or the corridor, and this may be
taken ss a plain confession on the
part of society that, as factor in the
prevention OF crime, capital punish.
ment is signal failure. In that
Declaration Of Rights which has made
the pen OF Jefferson immortal and has
made America what it is, it is
asse ted that "man has bsen endowed
with certain inalienable rights,
namely: Life, liberty and the pursuit.
Of happiness"
Endowed isit2 Endowed by whom 2
Inalienable does 1t say2 But society
does often ALLEVIATE them. Yet, as to
the latter two, che often, for proper
cause, restores the right, where, as to
frst and most eacred Of these, when
once aliened the sad and wrongful act
10 forever past recall.
In closing 1 beg Your Excellency to
remember that In the matter Of the
execution Of criminals the crushing
blow falls with ten thousand fold Sc
verify on surviving friends, relatives
and parents than II does on the an
happy victim Of public vengeaucs, for
these more unhappy survivors who
feel involved In his humiliation and
diegtacs are compelled to survive his
doom. And ia this rightf Let me
beg Your Excellency to seiss q golden
opportunity in your official career TO
teach the unthinking mass valuable
and needed Lesson in morals, namely:
That the preparation Of one crime
never justdes the p rpetration OF an
other aud more atrocious one. Lst me
beg OF you to rise above the clamor OF
popular vengeance and add lustsr To
the name Of Lea by teaching the peo-
pie that the cultivation OF humane
ideas is OF more value in the develop
ment OF the public character and con-
science than toe hearllees Mosaic doe.
ifne Of AN eye for an eye and tooth
for a tooth" which may possibly have
subserved lis purpose in barbaric age
and with a rude people just emerging
Tom servitude, but does not meet the
requirements OF the civiliz alton OF this
age ia which We profess to glory.
And now stop-bv repeating that
you stand In q positiol OF awful re.
sponsibility to do justics-jnstics TO
eociety, justice TO OIuverius, justice to
yourself % Governor OF q State iu / Of
historic grandeur, justice to God and
Iusli Q Co the spirit world and may
G7d aid You Ia doing right aud in ar
irving at conclusion that shall satisfy
you're onscience and make you happy
On ough all your years. With high
consideration, l am your obedient
servant, d.
Commercial Traveller banquet.
THRRR HAUrR, IED, January 81
Inc Commercial Travellers Associa-
ton OF Indiana, held their twelfth
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